Youngster has condition which affects her bowel

MOST parents won’t have to endure their children being put under general anaesthetic when they are just babies even once.

However, little Lacey Curran, who turned five in September, had her first operation when she was just two days old — and has since had another 99 procedures to treat a condition which affects her bowel.

Her mum Jennifer Wilson, 34, recently gave up full-time work because the schedule of Lacey’s treatment meant she couldn’t carry on her role as a healthcare assistant at Ninewells Hospital.

Lacey was recently given the chance to be a surgeon for the day — dressing up like Dr Amanda McCabe, who has carried out all of her 100 specialist procedures. Dr McCabe has treated Lacey both in the Tayside Children’s Hospital (TCH) i n Ninewells and at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

Jennifer, who lives with Lacey in Fintry, said: “Lacey loves dressing up and has lots of different uniforms. Because she’s in hospital so much she’s done a bit of role-play with the nurses and knows a lot about what they do.

“If a doctor comes over with a stethoscope she’ll know straight away to lift her top up, that kind of thing.

“She is a lot more comfortable and has a good relationship with the doctors but it was the first time she had dressed up in the ward.

“The surgeon’s outfit was the latest one she got so I arranged with the staff and she was allowed to wear it as a surprise. She was really chuffed.”